Before you start
Show the entire inventory and both properties’ access. Explain what stays, what moves and what is undecided, then check the written scope and report changes before collection.
Agree the survey format and what happens afterwards
Ask whether the proposed survey is a live call, a recorded walkthrough or another format, and how to send supporting photographs or measurements. Confirm the appointment, expected preparation and the person who will review the information. If a particular item or access issue is difficult to assess remotely, ask whether another form of assessment is needed.
Video surveying is an established industry method; the British Association of Removers’ training programme includes appointment preparation and recording survey results. It still depends on what can be seen and explained. For your own house-removal enquiry, establish how the survey leads to a written scope and which questions will remain open until further information is available.
Make a room list before opening the camera
Write down every space that contains something for the move: bedrooms, living areas, kitchen, bathrooms, hall cupboards, loft, cellar, garage, shed, balcony and garden. Mark the order in which you will show them. Include a separate storage unit or items kept at another address, even if they cannot be filmed during the same call.
For each space, mark furniture and possessions as moving, staying, storage or undecided. Tell the surveyor when an item visible on camera is not part of the move, and when something not visible is included. A tidy viewing-ready room can hide a substantial inventory in closed cupboards. If you are preparing to sell, keep the removal list consistent with the contents agreed through the sale.
Use a repeatable view for each room
Start with a steady wide view so the layout makes sense, then show the substantial furniture and stored contents. Open relevant cupboards where practical and describe anything the camera cannot show. Pause for questions rather than treating the walkthrough as a fast property-tour video.
| Area | Show and explain |
|---|---|
| Living room | Sofas, cabinets, electronics, books, fragile pieces and what stays. |
| Bedroom | Beds, mattresses, wardrobes and the contents that need packing. |
| Kitchen | Cupboard contents, appliances, loose equipment and any exclusions. |
| Storage | Loft, shed, garage, outdoor items and anything held elsewhere. |
Keep a note of omissions during the call. If a room is unavailable or boxes are already sealed, explain their number, size and likely contents as accurately as you can, then agree what extra information will resolve uncertainty. Keep the inventory tied to the move rather than estimating it only from the number of bedrooms.
Identify difficult furniture and the measurements that matter
Show large cabinets, long sofas, beds, gym equipment, artwork and anything unusually heavy or fragile. Explain known construction details and whether an item has previously been dismantled. Photograph manufacturer labels or assembly instructions if they help, and ask which items need a closer assessment before the handling plan is agreed.
Measure the complete route where a fit is uncertain: door openings, stair turns, lift interior and the entrance to the destination room. Record units clearly. A camera can show shape without proving clearance. Do not assume that an item which entered the old home assembled will reach a different flat in the same way. Use our belongings protection guide to prepare questions about packing and handling.
Show access as carefully as the household contents
Walk or photograph the route between the proposed unloading point and the door, including gates, steps, long carries and tight turns. State the floor, lift availability and any building delivery arrangements. Show the approach that the removal team would actually use, not only the main entrance shown in the property photographs.
Repeat the exercise for the new home where possible. If you cannot visit, ask the agent, landlord or building manager for specific photographs and measurements. Establish who can authorise loading, reserve a lift or explain applicable parking arrangements. Keep address-specific restrictions and proposed permissions separate from assumptions about what usually happens on the street. Update the team if the destination changes after the survey.
Make packing and storage choices part of the conversation
Explain which packing tasks you want included, what you intend to pack yourself and which pieces need special attention. Show fragile collections rather than describing the whole room as ordinary cartons. Ask how dismantling, fittings, reassembly and packing materials would be recorded in the scope.
For an overseas move, discuss export packing around the actual goods and route. If only part of the home will go into storage, identify that group clearly and explain what needs to remain accessible. Separate travelling essentials, documents and items staying with you from the main inventory, so a packing decision does not remove something needed before final delivery.
Prepare the device and the person doing the walkthrough
Charge the device, test the connection in the rooms you need to show and check the meeting instructions. Choose a time with enough light and with someone present who knows which items are included. If the connection drops in an outbuilding, arrange an alternative photograph or follow-up rather than silently omitting it.
Move personal papers and screens out of the shot where they are irrelevant. Keep the camera steady and pause while describing an item. Ask about the handling of any recording before agreeing to one. Walk only where you can do so comfortably; arrange another way to show an awkward area rather than climbing or moving heavy furniture while filming. The aim is clear information, not a polished video.
Check the written result and keep it current
Afterwards, compare the inventory and quotation assumptions with your notes. Check the addresses, items, packing, furniture work, storage, access and provisional dates. Raise omissions while the survey is fresh. Ask how additional photographs or changed decisions will be incorporated, and keep the revised version with the booking information.
Use the moving plan guide to connect the survey with keys, packing and the final confirmation. Notify the team if a sofa is sold, a garage clearance changes the load or a new purchase is added. A clear video survey is a starting record of the planned move; keeping that record accurate is what makes it useful when collection day arrives.
Common questions
Do I need to show inside cupboards?
Show the stored contents that form part of the move where practical. Explain anything that cannot be seen, including sealed cartons or belongings at another address.
Can a video prove that a sofa will fit through a doorway?
A video shows the setting but does not replace useful measurements or any further assessment needed. Provide the complete access route and discuss uncertain fits before agreeing the handling plan.
What if the inventory changes after the survey?
Tell the team promptly and ask for the relevant inventory and quotation assumptions to be updated. Keep the latest agreed version with the booking information.
Official information for your planning
Source links checked on 19 October 2026. Recheck current requirements and visitor information before making plans.
Make a plan for your move
Send your collection postcode, destination, inventory and likely dates so your quotation can reflect the actual move.
Request a moving quote